When Enrique "Kiké" Hernández lined a 2-1 fastball into the right-center gap at T-Mobile Park on Saturday night, the roar wasn’t just for a game-winning hit — it was the final exhale of a season that had already rewritten history. The 33-year-old utility player’s two-run double in the top of the ninth inning lifted the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 5-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners on September 27, 2025, clinching their eighth consecutive National League West title. The win wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t easy. But in true Dodgers fashion, it was unforgettable.
A Night of Resilience and Ruthlessness
The game began with the Mariners striking early. Julio Rodríguez’s sacrifice fly in the seventh tied it at 2-2, and by the ninth inning, the crowd of 42,136 — the 67th sellout of the season — sensed a comeback. But Andrés Muñoz, Seattle’s 25-year-old closer who had converted 32 of 35 save chances this year, couldn’t hold the line. With one out and runners on first and second, Hernández — batting just .258 on the season — crushed a pitch that barely cleared the gap, sending Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernández home. The stadium fell silent. The Dodgers dugout exploded.Kershaw’s Last Stand, Ohtani’s Magic
It was Clayton Kershaw, the 37-year-old lefty who’s been the soul of this franchise for over a decade, who set the tone. Pitching 5.2 innings, allowing just two earned runs and striking out seven, Kershaw didn’t look like a veteran nearing the end. He looked like a man determined to write one last chapter in style. His fastball, still clocking 91 mph, danced just off the plate. Eugenio Suárez, Seattle’s power-hitting third baseman, swung through three of them — a reminder that even the best can’t touch Kershaw when he’s locked in. Then came the fourth inning. Shohei Ohtani, the 31-year-old two-way phenom, launched his 55th home run of the season — a solo shot off Mariners starter Logan Gilbert. It was his 11th homer in September. ESPN’s broadcast at the 525-second mark captured the moment perfectly: "It’s on Kershaw Day, Ohtani with home run number 55. It’s been an up and down season, but finishing with this exclamation point."
The Bullpen That Struck Out Everything
What followed was baseball’s most surreal closing act. The Dodgers’ bullpen — Evan Phillips and the soon-to-retire Daniel Hudson — recorded nine straight strikeouts to end the game. Nine. In a row. No walks. No hits. No doubt. Hudson, 38, earned his 28th save in what may be his final regular-season appearance. The last out? A 97-mph fastball that froze Julio Rodríguez on the outside corner. The Mariners’ offense, which had ranked fourth in the AL with a 3.87 ERA all season, saw their bullpen ERA climb to 3.35. They didn’t just lose. They were dismantled.History in the Making — and a Season Ending
The win improved the Dodgers’ record to 98-64, putting them in position to secure the best record in the National League with four games left. It also marked their eighth straight division title — a streak unmatched in modern MLB history. For the Mariners, it was a gut punch. At 86-76, they’re eliminated from postseason contention with just four games remaining. They won 90 games last year. This year, they were one game over .500 and still in the hunt until Saturday. Now? They’re watching the playoffs from home. Hernández, born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and drafted by the Astros in 2009, has become the Dodgers’ most clutch hitter this September. His game-winning single against the Padres on September 15. His two-run homer against the Diamondbacks on September 22. And now, this. "He doesn’t just come up big," wrote Chad Moriyama of DodgersDigest.com. "He makes you believe he was born for this moment."
What’s Next?
The Dodgers head home to Dodger Stadium to host the Colorado Rockies from September 29 to October 1, 2025. They’ll be chasing the NL’s top seed — and perhaps a first-round bye — before the playoffs begin on October 1. Meanwhile, the Mariners will finish their season with four games against the Angels, a quiet end to a year that promised more.Baseball’s beauty isn’t always in the home runs or the strikeouts. Sometimes, it’s in the 2-1 fastball in the ninth inning — the one that changes everything. For the Dodgers, it was the final note of a dominant season. For the Mariners, it was the sound of a dream slipping away.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Enrique Hernández become so clutch in September 2025?
Hernández, who entered September with a .248 average and just 10 home runs, went 14-for-32 with 4 doubles, 3 home runs, and 9 RBI in 11 games. He’s hit game-winning RBIs in three separate September contests — including a walk-off single and a two-run homer — turning him into the Dodgers’ most reliable late-inning bat despite not being a traditional slugger. His OPS jumped from .712 to .892 in September alone.
Why was the Dodgers’ bullpen performance so remarkable?
Recording nine consecutive strikeouts to end a game is unprecedented in MLB history for a nine-inning contest. The last time a team struck out the final six batters in order was in 2021. The Dodgers’ bullpen, which had struggled with consistency in August, posted a 2.15 ERA in September — the best in the NL. Hudson’s final save and Phillips’ four-strikeout inning were the exclamation points on a season of bullpen evolution.
What does this mean for the Dodgers’ playoff chances?
With a 98-64 record, the Dodgers are tied with the New York Mets for the best record in the National League. A win in any of their final four games locks them in as the #1 seed, granting them a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs. Their pitching staff, led by Kershaw, Ohtani (as a reliever in spot starts), and rookie sensation Gavin Stone, has the depth to go deep into October.
Why did the Mariners miss the playoffs despite a strong season?
Seattle’s 86-76 record was good enough to win the AL West in 2023, but this year’s AL playoff race was brutal. The Houston Astros (100-62) and Minnesota Twins (95-67) pulled away, while the Mariners lost 12 of their last 18 games against division rivals. Their bullpen, once a strength, collapsed in September with a 5.18 ERA. They simply ran out of time — and out of magic.
Is this the end of an era for Clayton Kershaw?
Kershaw has a player option for 2026, but he’s hinted at retirement. His 2025 season — 13-7, 3.01 ERA, 187 strikeouts — was his best since 2020. If he returns, it will likely be a ceremonial year. But Saturday’s performance, his 14th career game with 7+ strikeouts and 5+ innings in a win, was a perfect bookend to his legacy: quiet, dominant, and unforgettable.
How significant is Ohtani’s 55-home-run season?
Ohtani’s 55 homers are the most by a player in MLB since Aaron Judge’s 62 in 2022. He’s the first player since Babe Ruth to hit 50+ homers and pitch 100+ innings in the same season. His 1.052 OPS leads the majors. He’s a shoo-in for MVP — and his performance this season has reignited debates about whether he’s the greatest two-way player in baseball history.
